The Dubai-based Jumeirah Group has been appointed by Zabeel Properties to manage Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. The new luxury hotel - located on the west crescent of Dubai's Palm Jumeirah and Zabeel's first hotel in the country - opened at the beginning of January.

In addition to its 405 rooms, the hotel offers 38 villas situated on the beach and around a lagoon pool; 10 restaurants; bars; a night club; boutiques; gardens; tennis courts; a fitness centre; and the Mehteran Theatre & Event Centre. Also available is the Talise Ottoman Spa, covering 8,000sq m (86,111sq ft) and providing 42 individual spa rooms and suites, an indoor swimming pool and three authentic Turkish Hammams.

In a further development, the Jumeirah Group is to operate the Jumeirah Thousand Islands Lake Resort in Qiandaohu, China, on behalf of owners the Liuhe Group. The property, expected to open in 2014, will consist of a luxury hotel with 89 guest rooms and a further 50 rooms in surrounding villas.

Facilities are to include an all-day dining restaurant, two specialty waterside restaurants, a water-moon wine bar, a pool bar, a banquet and conference centre, and a Talise spa with swimming pools and a health and fitness centre.